The Founding Fathers must have believed a democracy was the way to go, if what they gave us with the United States of America is really a democracy. No on both counts.

We actually live in a Republic. You know: “and to the Republic for which it stands.” Those great minds who gave us the Constitution disagreed on a lot of things, but they stood united on one thing—a democracy was the worst possible form of government.

Even the idea that our nation is built on “majority rules” is not near the truth. Yes, the Founding Fathers knew that a government if it became a democracy would soon lead to mob rule. And they expressed themselves that way.

That’s why our system of government was established on principles of freedom and accountability. With checks and balances built in. It seems that it has become a little out of balance lately.

We elect senators and congressmen to represent us in Washington, D.C.; we vote for them, and then they are supposed to vote the way we want, the way they promised us they would represent us.

If they don’t vote that way (which, indeed, many of us feel that they don’t at the present time) we vote them out of office at the next election. But sometimes we forget, don’t we?

After the Constitution was signed, Benjamin Franklin was leaving the convention and was met by a lady. She asked Ben: “Well, Dr. Franklin, what have we got, a monarchy or a republic?”

His answer should strike fear into our hearts today: “Madam, we have a republic—if we can keep it.”